Shuhan

The cold wind in midwinter is biting and snow is flying in the leaden sky, as if the whole world covered in silver is covered with a layer of solemn white.

However, on this bitterly cold day, the battlefield outside Hu County was boiling with passion.

The soldiers of the Han army were clad in heavy armor, and their eyes were burning with a determined desire to fight.

The cold wind is not suitable for attacking the city, but there will always be brave men if there is a big reward.

Unafraid of the severe cold, the Han soldiers pushed the huge battering ram again and again, trying to break through the city gate of Hu County.

Boom~
Boom~
Boom~
At the city gate, the roar of thunder bombs continued to echo. Every explosion made the earth tremble, and the city gate seemed to groan in the continuous bombing.

The towering iron gate had been twisted and deformed by the fierce bombardment of thunder bombs, but it still stood stubbornly.

Behind the iron gate, there are layers of iron and stone barriers, like the last line of defense of Hu County, which is indestructible.

The Wei army blocked the city gates, which did help prevent the Han army's thunder bombs, but it was not without disadvantages.

That would block one's own way of retreat.

The only way out for them was to defend the city.

It was precisely because of this that they were extremely determined in defending the city, as if it was a battle with their backs against the wall.

"Come on~"

"Kill~"

The Han army soldiers were not discouraged. They knew that although the city gate was strong, war was not as simple as breaking down a gate.

They adjusted their tactics flexibly. Some soldiers continued to attack the city gates with battering rams and thunder bombs, while others began to prepare ladders in an attempt to break through the city walls.

Ladders were placed on the city wall of Hu County one after another, and the Han army soldiers climbed up bravely.

They charged forward fearlessly, braving the rain of arrows and rolling logs and rocks from the Wei army on the city walls.

Whenever a soldier climbed up the city wall, he would engage in a fierce battle with the Wei army above. Amid the flashing of swords and the shadow of sabers, hot blood splattered, but was quickly frozen into blood particles in the cold wind, like red gems scattered on the silver-white snow.

Shouts of killing rang out on the battlefield, and the Han and Wei armies engaged in a desperate fight on the city wall.

Although the Wei army was already at the end of their strength, they still fought hard. Every fight seemed to be defending this land with their lives.

"Han dog, come and die for grandpa!"

"Kill them quickly! The Han army is coming!"

However, the cruelty of the war and the continuous consumption caused the Wei army's defense line to gradually collapse.

After holding out for more than half a month with their retreat cut off, their physical strength and morale had reached their limits.

Despite this, they still did not give up until the last moment.

The Han army's offensive became more and more fierce. They were like surging waves, impacting the Wei army's defense line with one wave higher than the other.

Finally, after a fierce charge, the Han army completely broke through the Wei army's defense and occupied the entire Hu County city wall.

The moment the city was broken, the noise on the battlefield gradually subsided, leaving only the cold wind howling on the empty city wall.

The Han army soldiers stood on the city wall, overlooking the land they had just conquered, their hearts filled with the pride of victory.

However, outside Hu County, Zhang Bao's expression did not look very good.

Hu County is the fulcrum of the Hongnong Defense Line south of the river.

After this fulcrum was removed, the Wei army's Hongnong defense line was pushed to the Hongnong County City.

Taking the city is naturally good news.

But Zhang Bao just couldn't laugh.

As for the reason, it is also very simple.

In order to capture Hu County, the Han army not only spent a great deal of time, but also left more than a thousand corpses under the city of Hu County. These were all Han army infantrymen, not civilians and militiamen. The number of real civilians and militiamen who died under the city of Hu County was almost incalculable.

Although Hu County was captured, it was a pyrrhic victory.

In the dead of winter, the rivers were frozen, and the logistics could no longer keep up. As the weather grew colder, the soldiers' will to fight waned little by little, and among the civilians and militiamen, some deserted due to too many casualties.

Although Hu County was eliminated, there are still many fortresses around it.

His previous strategy of persuading the enemy to surrender had failed, and now the situation had become passive.

"General, if we continue to attack, I'm afraid we won't be able to continue."

The combat effectiveness of the Han army is declining, the logistics cannot keep up, and the weather is getting worse. Now stopping the war and recuperating is the best option for the Han army.

Zhang Bao was an expert in military affairs, so he naturally understood this principle.

But
If he doesn't achieve some results, how can the Han Kingdom gain the favor of His Majesty and become the main force in its conquest of Hongnong Road?
So he looked fierce and said in a stern voice: "Organize the soldiers and attack again!"

The lives of soldiers are precious, but the great cause of the Han State is equally important!
Even more important.

"Report~"

At this moment, the sound of intelligence came from behind everyone.

"Angels are coming from Xinfeng!"

Angel?

It must be His Majesty's will.

Zhang Bao immediately turned around to greet the angel.

This angel was none other than Yang Yi.

"General Zhang, this is a secret order from His Majesty."

Yang Yi took the imperial edict from the red plate held by the deputy envoy beside him, but did not read it out. Instead, he handed it to Zhang Bao.

"This secret decree must be destroyed after reading it. Remember, do not tell anyone else."

It cannot be told to a second person, how could this matter be so secret?
Zhang Bao raised his eyebrows slightly. After receiving the secret decree, he did not open it to read it. Instead, he bowed to Yang Yi and said, "Your Majesty, do you have anything else to say?"

Yang Yi shook his head and said, "Everything is in the secret order."

"Then please rest, angel."

Yang Yi waved his hand and said, "No, I have to go to Hedong, so I won't stay here."

"Hedong?"

Zhang Bao was stunned.

"Could it be that Xiang Chong has made some progress in Hedong?"

Yang Yi still shook his head and said to Zhang Bao: "General, once you read the secret decree, you will know everything."

After bidding farewell to Yang Yi, Zhang Bao walked into the big tent and after sending everyone away, he took out the secret decree and read it to him.

The contents of the secret decree were as follows:
The State of Wu did not submit to the Imperial Han Dynasty, harbored other ambitions, and was suspected of rebelling against the Han Dynasty.

At present, five armies are jointly attacking the Wei bandits, but the battle is at a stalemate and it is difficult to achieve success quickly.

After careful consideration, I decided to lead an army of 30,000 elite troops in person, march thousands of miles south, and attack the State of Wu with lightning speed.

I wish to take advantage of their unpreparedness and attack them where they are defenseless, hoping to conquer the State of Wu in one battle.

After destroying Wu, I will take its army and civilians with me, turn my front to the north and attack Wei. In this way, the world can be settled and the Han Dynasty can be revived.

The general's troops are stationed in Hongnong, and they have a heavy responsibility. I hope that the general will temporarily suspend the offensive and proceed step by step. He should not be too aggressive, but also use clever strategies to prevent Sima Yi from seeing my intentions.

This battle concerns the rise and fall of the Han Dynasty. General, you must be extremely cautious and act according to the plan.

I have high hopes for the general, and I hope that the general will live up to my expectations and achieve great things together with me.

This is it.

After reading it, Zhang Bao remained silent for a long time.

He felt a little disappointed, but more relieved.

In order to become the main force, his deployment of troops this time has deviated somewhat from the art of war.

Once the tactics on the front become linked to politics, it will be difficult to win the war. Your Majesty's march southward to attack Wu is like removing the tight ring from Zhang Bao's head.

just
Your Majesty's thinking is so unconventional that it far exceeds Zhang Bao's imagination.

Even Sima Yi, the old fox, probably could not have imagined that the main force of the Han Dynasty would not attack Wei, but instead go south to destroy Wu.

Even Sima Yi could not think of this, let alone Sun Zhongmou. He threw the secret order on the brazier and watched the silk secret order burn to ashes on the brazier before he left with peace of mind.

Since there is a secret order from His Majesty, we must proceed slowly in attacking Hongnong.

Waiting for the thunder bombs to be delivered, waiting for food and logistical support. This batch of militiamen should be sent home and replaced by another batch.

By the time you finish these things, perhaps it will be the beginning of next spring.

I just wonder if the State of Wu will still be there in the spring of next year?
the other side.

In the east of the Yellow River, Yubi City stands majestically, with its city walls so high that they seem to connect with the clouds in the sky.

The city has a unique geographical location. It is located on the top of a cliff and is surrounded by bottomless canyons. There is only one winding path leading to the city gate. It can be said that "one man guards the pass and ten thousand men cannot open it."

The Han army's camps were densely distributed around Yubi City, with flags flying and a strong momentum.

However, facing this impregnable city, even though the Han army was large in number and well-equipped, they were still unable to capture it.

The corpses piled up like mountains outside the city, and the blood dyed the white snow bright red, which was shocking to see.

Today, the Han army finally stopped attacking the city.

The soldiers were exhausted, their morale was low, and the continuous defeats made them feel stressed.

In the camp, the generals looked solemn as they discussed the next strategy.

The soldiers sat around the campfire, some with their eyes closed, some with their heads down in deep thought. The atmosphere was dull and depressing.

The walls of Yubi City appeared even more indestructible in the afterglow of the setting sun, as if it were an eternal fortress, silently mocking the helpless Han army below the city.

The Han army's camp, although huge, seemed a bit messy, with tents of various colors arranged in an orderly manner and smoke from the campfires lingering in the air, forming a sharp contrast with Yubi City.

This war has gone on for too long and both sides have paid a huge price.

Although the Han army was large in number, they had to rethink their strategy when faced with natural barriers like Yubi City.

This confrontation is not only a test of the military strength of both sides, but also a contest of wisdom and endurance.

The Yubi City was like an insurmountable mountain, standing in front of the Han army, leaving them in a dilemma.

"Hey~"

Xiang Chong sighed and said, "This city is difficult to attack!"

Yang Qianwan's troops suffered a lot of losses, and his face was a little gloomy at the moment. He said: "If we can't attack, can't we bypass this place?"

"It's difficult!" Liu Zhao, the current head of the Hedong Liu family and the Hedong County Magistrate, sighed and said, "If the jade disc is not surrendered, Hedong will be difficult to control."

Yubi City is a battle barrier city.

For example, the four passes of Wu, Xiao, Tong and San are to Guanzhong, Yangping Pass is to Hanzhong, Yecheng is to Hebei, Jiange is to Shuzhong, Jingkou and Liyang are to Jiangdong, Pengcheng is to Lianghuai, Shanhaiguan and Ningyuan are to Liaodong.

This type of city is located at the mouth of a mountain or at the strategic point of a large river, with dangerous roads on both sides. The city controls the left and right sides like a shield, providing strong protection for the large area behind.

This is what we often hear the word "portal".

Yubi City is located north of the Yellow River.

Historically, during the confrontation between the Eastern and Western Wei, the Eastern Wei often sneaked across the Yellow River from southern Shanxi to harass Guanzhong, posing a great threat to the Western Wei in Guanzhong.

The Western Wei Dynasty then built a large and sturdy city in the old city of Yubi, and relied on the city to hold its ground, effectively protecting the Pujindu, Fenglingdu and other ferry crossings along the Huang River in southern Shanxi.

The Eastern Wei was completely confused. It could no longer sneak across the Yellow River to attack Guanzhong, nor did it dare to bypass Yubi and force its way across the river, so it left. Later, it launched two nationwide attacks on the small Yubi City, but each time it retreated awkwardly.

Gao Huan, the prime minister of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, died because of a relapse of his old illness due to the Second Battle of Yubi.

If you bypass Yubi, you will run the risk of having your logistics cut off by the Yubi defenders, and being attacked from both sides by the Yubi defenders and the rest of the Han army.

Only by capturing Yubi can we conquer Hedong.

"When we had enough thunderbolts before, we almost conquered the Jade Wall. Now that the thunderbolts are in short supply, we have wasted the lives of our soldiers."

This cannot go on.

We have to find another way.

"Report~"

At this moment, Xiang Chong's personal guards came to report the news.

"General, the angel is coming."

Angel?

Xiang Chong went to greet him immediately.

After meeting Yang Yi and paying respects with courtesy, Yang Yi said, "This is the secret decree of His Majesty. After you read it, burn it. Do not let anyone else see this message."

Secret decree?

Xiang Chong nodded immediately.

"I wonder if Your Majesty has any other instructions?"

Yang Yi nodded and said, "The jade disk is difficult to attack, so you can't attack it brute forcefully."

Xiang Chong nodded and said, "If that's the case, I understand."

"I have other things to do, so I won't stay in the army for long. Goodbye."

After delivering two secret decrees, he now had to run to Wuguan Road to catch up with the main force.

And report to Your Majesty what you have seen and heard along the way.

He has no time to waste.

After bidding farewell to Yang Yi, Xiang Chong burned incense and bathed, and then opened the secret decree and read it carefully.

The secret decree read:

I have inherited the mandate of Heaven and have been entrusted with the protection of the Han country. I get up early and stay up late, always thinking about the affairs of the state.

I have recently heard that the State of Wu has ulterior motives, is not affiliated with the Imperial Han Dynasty, and even has hidden intentions of rebellion. I am very worried about this.

Now the five armies are advancing to attack Wei, but the battle is stalemate and it is difficult to quickly achieve a decisive victory. After careful consideration, I decided to personally lead 30,000 elite soldiers to attack Wu directly. This move is intended to take them by surprise and attack them when they are unprepared, in order to conquer Wu in one fell swoop.

If I can successfully destroy Wu, I will use the strength of Wu's army and people to turn north to attack Wei, in order to avenge the previous humiliation and revive the Han Dynasty.

Your troops are currently stationed in Hedong. I order you to temporarily suspend the offensive against Yubi. Do not attack brute force, but mainly siege the city, supplemented by harassment tactics, to disrupt the morale of the troops and destroy their morale. Although this strategy is slow, it may reap miraculous results in the long run.

I hope the general will follow my instructions and act accordingly.

This decree is confidential, so please be careful and don't let it leak.

This is it.

After reading the secret decree, Xiang Chong slowly exhaled.

Attack Wu and Wei.

There is no order of precedence.

If Your Majesty destroys Wu first, with the power of destroying Wu, perhaps you can really deter the villains and open up the situation in Wei.

Now that he is free from pressure, he only needs to proceed step by step.

On the battlefield, if one blindly seeks a quick victory, the final result will be a crushing defeat.

After being radical for so long, it's time to take a break.

And thousands of miles away.

Jianye.

Sun Quan raised an army of more than 50,000, claiming to have 100,000 soldiers, and marched towards Xunyang in a mighty force.

What was beyond his imagination was that there were not many Han troops in Xunyang City. After only three days of siege, Xunyang was captured.

The battle line was quickly pushed to Jiangxia.

Such progress further confirmed Sun Quan's conjecture that the Han army was a paper tiger and that a large number of elite troops had actually been transferred to attack Wei.

Sun Zhongmou's eyes were bright and he was full of energy!

Advantage
It's really on me! (End of this chapter)